Adjustable abdominal supporting-corset.



B. M. STRADLIN'G & E. E. WASHBURN. ADJUSTABLE ABDOMINAL SUPPORTING CORSET.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1 7, I918.

Patented Apr. 2, 1919.

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B. M. STRADLING & E. E. WASHBURN. ADJUSTABLE ABDOMINAL SUPPORTING CORSET.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17. I918- LSQLfil, Patented Apr. 22,1919.

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ADJUSTABLE ABDOMINAL SUPPORTING-CORSET.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Apr. 22, 1919' Application filed June 17, 1918. Serial No. 240,417.

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, BnnTr-IA M. STRADLING and EMMA E WASHBURN, citizens of the United States of America, residing at Blair, in the county of Washington and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Adjustable Abdominal Supporting-Corsets, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in corsets worn by patients afflicted with sagging viscera or having heavy abdominal walls resulting in a pendulous abdomen, for those who have undergone abdominal operations for any of the numerous disorders requiring such treatment, and where, in such cases scar formation is imperfect as the result of required drainage; and among the principal objects of our improvements are the following: a

To provide a substantially topless corset, that is, one not appreciably extending above the Waist line, so as to interfere with abdominal breathing, that will, with comfort to the wearer, sustain such other garments as are necessarily imposed thereon or attached thereto; and that, as a garment of this character for general wear, will adjust itself to the different poses assumed by the wearer, either in active work or in those comfortable positions selected for bodily repose.

A further object is to facilitate changing the position of application and direction of action of the abdominal supporting parts, without in any manner disturbing the -posi tion or adjustment of the supporting base or body part of the corset; also, to providethis abdominal supporting part with means independent of its attaching means, for adjusting its encompassing capacity, for such abdominal changes as may occur duringpregnancy; and to adjust its force of compres sion on the parts supported, in cases where more pressure is required than that which is necessary to simply support; that is, compression sufficient to raise the sagging viscera to a normal position. v v

And further, to provide smooth and pliable surfaces in all parts of the structure that are disposed to contact with or bear against lines of incision made in the most important abdominal operations; for instance, the median vertical line of the abdomen and the position in the lower right quadrant thereof peculiar to operations for appendicitis. Also, to grade and dispose the bonings and broken line A of Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4, a

cross-section or plan taken on the broken line B in Figs. 1 and 2; and Fig. 5, shows a crosssection through the central front on the broken line C of Figs. 1 add 2. In all of which views the same numerals refer to like parts.

' The back 6 extending between the opposite side seams 8 and 8, is all constructed of .a nonelastic fabric and shaped to perfectly fit the entire upper curve of the hips, the

small of the back, and all of that portion of the wearers body lying between said side 'seams. The central top or summit 5 of this back is extended above the waist line for splnal support and to asslst 1n obviatin g upward movement of the corset when the .wearers position 1s that of rechnlng. From this summit the top edge is sloped downwardly and carried forwardly in easy curves connecting with the top edge of the front close down to the waist line, leaving the arms and bust of the wearer entirely free. Thin light resilient bonings, as indicated at 7 in suitable casings, prevents the back from shortening into laterally ranged wrinkles .withoutdestroying its flexibility to accommodate the bending movements of the wearer. This closely fitted non-elastic but pliable back serves as the constant support- .ing base for the connected adjustable and movable front portions of the corset, including its special abdominal support.

The front of the body consists of minor and major flaps connected by the vertical row 10 of separable fastenings, disposedabout midway between the center of the front and the lefthand side seam 8. This separable connection serves as the regular opening for putting the corset on and off. The minor flap consists of the single section 9 of nonelastic fabric having its back edge permanently secured in the left side seam and its opposite free edge suitably finished and provided with parts of the separable fastenings complemental to parts attached to the free edge of the major fiap.

The major flap comprises a base section 11 of the same size, reversely shaped and disposed oppositely to the section 9 and made of like nonelastic material; its back. edge is securely stitched into the opposite or righthand side seam 8. A large central portion of the front consists of the two opposite side sections 13 and 14 shaped from an elastic fabric. The right section 13 has its attached edge securely stitched into the boning shield 12 connecting it permanently to the outer edge of the base section 11. The opposite left section 14: has its outer edge,-which is the free edge of the major flap,finished with a light pliable busked edge and complementa parts of the separable fastenings in the vertical row of fastenings 10. The adjacent centrally disposed edges of these elastic sections are provided with the vertical rows of spaced eyelets 15 and 15 to receive the lace 16. By this lacing the circumferential adjustmentof the corset body is efiected by varying the width of space between the adjacent edges of the elastic sec tions. It is obvious that this space must always be at the center of the front of the applied corset, even though the body adjustments are attained by varying the length of this major flap. V

The construction of the busked lacing edges through which are seated the vertical rows of eyelets 15, are shown in enlarged cross-section in Fig. l. Wide binding strips 35 and 35, are each folded laterally upon itself in the usual manner; and the opposed edges of the elastic sections 13 and 14 are each stitched between the edges of one of the binding strips. In the'resulting loop of each strip the pair of thin pliable bones 7 and 7 are disposed spaced apart, one in the outer edge of the loop and the other against the stitched-in edge of the section. Through the space between the bones, lines of stitches placed close to the bones, close the opposite thicknesses of each doubled binding together to retain the bones in position; and the eyelets are disposed centrally through the space between these seams.

The variable space between the lacing busks is backed by the detachably and ad justably supported lacing shield 17. This shield consists of two thicknesses of a very light pliable fabric stitched with vertical seams to form casings for the longitudinal thin needle bones 18, 18 etc. At central points near its top and bottom ends socket snaps or fasteners 19 are attached. (loinplemental parts of these snap fasteners are set in the center of the horizontally disposed elastic straps 20. Smaller like ball and socket fasteners 21 and 22, have a ball part 21 seated in the lacing busks, as shown;

and a longitudinal row of complemental sockets 22 disposed toward the ends of each strap, facilitates making such adjustments of the lengthof the straps as are not attained by their elasticity; and enables placing and retaining the shield at the exact center of the front, as well as supporting it against slipping endwise either downwardly or upwardly.

The lower edge of the flaps, of the whole corset body front, is cut away, as shown, to a single archform, spanning nearly the entire distance from one side seam 8 to'the other. This allows the wearer perfect freedom to sit down'or flex the thighs forwardly and upwardly, without thrusting the lower edge of the front of the low-seated corset into the groins or thighs. It is obvious that the weight of the fabricsused in this body structure may be graded, according to the requirements, from the heaviest to that which is very light even to porous or open mesh. And that the elastic sections yield edgewise to any tortuous movements of the front, as well as to compensate the temporary abdominal expansion or inflation, caused by overeating or bloating, without resorting to changes in the centrally disposed lacing. Garment supporting straps 36 and 36, extending downwardly "from the lower ends of the lacing busks may have any Sllllgtbl tip fastenings such as are usually use The right and left lappets 23 and 24: respectively, that form the adjustable abdominal support, have their wide bases 37 and 37 stitched into the side seams 8 and 8, each as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. These lappets are irregularly tapered, toward their forward meeting and connecting ends, to a desired width and any adjustment of height, at their central front, they overlap the vertex of the arch of the lower edge of the body front; and according to the angular adjustment extend less or more below and somewhat under said lower edge, when the wearer is standing erect or lying straightened. The free narrowed connecting end of the right lappet 23overlaps the corresponding free end of the left lappet and extends beyond the front center of the corset. A terminal portion of this free end is separated from the attached part and worked to form the short vertical lacing busk or edge 25, in which is incased the base of the wide fiat hook 26, to releasably engage the flat catchbar 27 attached on the outside of the left lappet 24C. The narrow terminal of the attached part is worked to form a like opposed lacing edge or busk 38; each husk has a vertical row 42 of eyelets, as shown, to receive the lacing 28. These lacingbusks are disposed substantially at the center of the front and by this lacing the combined length of the lappets and the lifting pressure of the abdominal support is adjusted. The free end 29 of the left lappet is extended beyond the flat catch-bar 27 sufficiently to underlap the lacing and busked eyeleted edges at all adjustments, to supply a smooth shield therefor.

The wide bases of these lappets are slashed downwardly from the top edges, nearly the whole width, to open and form the adjustable lacing gores 30 and 30. This leaves the narrow unsevered portions 39 and 39, which are reinforced and stitched as shown; and are sufficiently flexible edgewise to serve as pivots to the bases of the lappets. Swinging edgewise on these pivotal portions the lappets may be moved downwardly, at their connected front, to the positions indicated by the broken lines 31, 31 etc., to change both the position and direction of support. The edges made by slashing the bases of the lappets are worked to formv the eyeleted busks 40, properly boned or steeled as shown, to receive the laces 41 and 41. It is obvious that by slacking or drawing in these lacings, gores of different angles are formed in accordance with the dififerent angular adjustments of the abdominal support; and these gores sustain the full widths of the lappet bases for any adjustment, without edgewise strain or in any manner causing wrinkles therein.

Hose supporter straps 32, of the usual elastic and adjustable type with ordinary attaching terminals, pend from the lower edges of the lappets; these serve the usual purpose of such straps and the additional purpose of drawing the lappets down to position and free from longitudinal wrinkles. This is particularly serviceable when the lace gores are let out wide at their tops to allow the supporter to swing down and under a protrusive or pendulous abdomen. If the wearer reclines or lies down, relieving the pressure on the supporter and the hips and knees are flexed, the lappets may work upward and out of their adjusted position; but will be drawn into correct place when the wearer assumes a straightened posture.

As illustrated in Fig. 3, those parts of the scams 8 which secure together the front and back of the corset and the attached bases of the lappets, are constructed to form casings for the larger less flexible bones 33 and 33. These bonings are discontinued at the points 34, so as not to extend any lower than the hip joints; this leaves the lower side skirt parts pliable for easy flexure when the wearer sits down, or for doubling up while lying down or in assuming a reclining posture.

We claim:

1. An adjustable abdominal supporting corset, comprising an integral back of non-li elastic fabric, having a top edge high at the] .busks to receive a full vertical lacing, the

top edge coincident with the top edge of said back at the side seams and descending to approximately the waist line along the central front and the lower edge arched across to clear the thighs of the wearer when sitting; an abdominal support of nonelastic fabric having wide base ends stitched into the side seams uniting said back and front, a vertical lacing through its central narrow front to adjust the length thereof, and disposed outside to overlap the top of the arched lower edge of the corset front and extend downwardly and across to support the abdomen therebelow when the wearer assumes a straightened posture.

2. An, adjustable abdominal supporting corset, comprising a back of nonelastic fabric, a front consisting of a minor flap having its left edge stitched to the left edge of said back and complemental parts of separable fastenings disposed on its free edge, a major flap having its right edge stitched to the right edge of said back, "parts of separable fastenings disposed on the free edge of the major flap to engage the complemental parts on the free edge of the minor flap, and a lacing device disposed through said major flap from top to bottom at the center of the front to divide said fiap and adjust the length thereof, a lacing shield disposed inside athwart said lacing device, and an elastic strap centrally connected to said shield, disposed horizontally across the lacing space and its opposite end portions adjustably plonnected to opposite parts of the divided 3. An adjustable abdominal supporting corset, comprising an openable encompassing body, means to fasten the body releasably closed, an abdominal support consisting of lappets pivotally attached at their bases on the sides of the body to swing edgewise up and down, means to adjustably and separably connect the free ends of the lappets, and means to adjustably limit the downward edgewise swing thereof but not their upward swing.

4. An adjustable abdominal supporting corset, comprising a body having an integral back of nonelastic fabric, a front connected to said back by vertical side seams, means disposed in said front to adjustably and releasably close said body, the lower edge of 'the back and sides disposed downwardly to center and. inclined downwardly to near form a skirt extending below the hip joints of the wearer and the lower edge of the front arched to clear the forwardly-flexed thighs; an abdominal support consisting of opposite outside lappets having broad bases secured in the vertical side seams that connect said back and front, vertical bonings disposed in casings shaped in connection with the parts of said side seams that secure the bases of the lappets and limited in their downward extension to points not lower than the hip joints of the wearer, and means to adjustably and releasably connect the free ends of said lappets across the arched lower edge of said front.

5. An adjustable abdominal supporting corset, comprising a body having a vertical opening, suitable separable fastenings to releasably connect the opposite edges of the opening, an abdominal support consisting of lappets having broad bases attached to the sides of said body, a terminal section comprising an eyeleted lacing bush and a flat hook, an eyeleted lacing busk on the free end of one lappet a lace disposed in said eyeleted busks to adjust the length of the lappet, a bar-eye on the opposite lappet to receive the flat hook and the terminal end of this lappet extended to underlap said bottom of the front, a lacing disposed to divide the major flap vertically for circumferential adjustment, an abdominal support consisting of opposite lappets having broad bases attached to the connected'sides of said back and front, means to releasably connect the free ends of said lappets, lacing means in one lappet to adjust the encompassing length of the support, and lacing gores disposed downwardly into the top edges of said lappets to facilitate the edgewise swing thereof to adjust the height and the direction of the pressure of the support. 7

In testimony whereof We have hereunto afli'x ed our signatures,

BERTHA M. STRADLING. EMMA WASHBURN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

